Pisa and Cinque Terre

Our train from Genoa to Pisa left at 9:47 AM.  As we headed south along the coast between Genoa and La Spezia we caught glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea.  It looked spectacular.  South of La Spezia, the landscape took on a more familiar feel as we entered Tuscany.  It brought back fond memories of our family trip to the region last year (thanks again, Dad and Gretchen!).  

We headed straight for the Torre Pendante (a.k.a. Leaning Tower) upon our arrival in Pisa, following the hoard of tourists and backpackers.  While it is one of Italy's most recognizable monuments it was still a little surreal to see it in person.  The nearby cathedral and baptistry are stunning in their own right but it is the tower that dominates the scene. We enjoyed gelatos and walked around the meticulously tended lawns taking pictures.  

Pam and I laughed at all the cheezy tourists taking photos of themselves holding up the Tower.  That joke is so played out.  I finally put an end to all the madness by pulling out my shovel and fixing the problem myself!  With that mission accomplished, we decided to head back to the train station. 

 

While the Torre Pendante was impressive, little did we know that the highlight of the trip was yet to come.  The guidebook Jason and Tiffany bought us highly recommended a visit to Cinque Terre for views of "some of Italy's most spectacular coastline."  Besides, my good friend Nick (last name withheld for obvious reasons) reportedly spent his 21st birthday passed out on one of the beaches there.   I just had to see this historic site.  Anyway, Cinque Terre is located just North of La Spezia and is named after its five tiny villages (Riomaggiore, Manorola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso).  The villages are all linked by the Via dell'Amore (or Lover's Lane), a winding footpath carved into the cliffs along the coast.  

We got off the train at Riomaggorie, Cinque Terre's southern most village, and enjoyed lunch at a delightful little restaurant overlooking a tiny cove along the Mediterranean Sea.  (See video).  We dined on -- what else -- pomodoro e mozzarella.  After lunch, we walked along the Via dell'Amore from Riomaggoire to Corniglia, passing through Manarola along the way.  The views were simply breathtaking.  (See video)

After hiking for 2+ hours we re-boarded the train at Corniglia, just in time for sunset.  We arrived back in Genoa by 10PM.  It was a long day, but one we won't soon forget....